American actor born 1948, in Snyder, Texas. Leading man of the American stage, TV, and films. He made a strong presence in some films in the 80s, but he was most successful on TV. He won an Emmy award as Best Actor for his performance in the TV movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) (TV).

TRIVIA:

Born to Merrill Vestal Boothe and his wife Emily Kathryn Reeves.

He was named after a friend of his father's that was killed in World War II.

Father of 'Parisse Boothe' (qv).

In September of 1980, in an act of defiance, he showed up at the Emmy Awards ceremony to collect the award he had won for playing Jim Jones. The Screen Actors Guild was in the middle of a strike and members boycotted the ceremony until the strike was settled. He was the only winner in an acting category who showed up. The incident was referenced in the 'James L. Brooks' (qv) film, _I'll Do Anything (1994)_ (qv).

He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2009 in Austin, Tx.

During the 1980 actor's strike, he was one of the few nominees to attend the Emmy Awards ceremony, and the only winner to accept his award in person.

He earned an MFA from Southern Methodist University and went on to become a resident actor at the Oregon Shakespeare Company.

His first film role was as a Bolivian bandito in the 1969 classic, "Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid". He had no lines and did not receive a credit.